This is a chance for young people to be creative as they respond to a most important question in our time.
The Diocese of Kalamazoo in collaboration with the Knights of Columbus, invite students across the country, in grades 4th to 12th, to present their artistic interpretation of the theme: “The Family Fully Alive”. Any student residing in the United States in grades 4th through 12th (attending Catholic schools or in Public schools who attend faith formation/catechism classes or are homeschooled and are affiliated with a Catholic Church/Parish), is invited to take part in “The Family Fully Alive” National Student Contest.
The following is a brief summary of the national contest guidelines:
Grades 4th to 8th: Submit a poem (up to 30 lines), or an essay of 150-500 words, either clearly handwritten or typed (double-spaced, 12 point font, and 1 inch margins). Submit art (painting, drawing) or submit an original musical composition or video. On the back of the submission, print your name, age, school - including city, phone number, as well as the name of your teacher. Please review official criteria for national contest. Submit official Kalamazoo Diocese National Student Contest Cover Sheet (one per entry).
Grades 9th to 12th: Submit a poem (up to 30 lines), or an essay of 250-500 words, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font and 1 inch margins. Submit art (painting, drawing, other) or an original musical composition or video (as per official criteria for national contest). On the back of each submission, print your name, age, school including city, phone number, as well as the name of your teacher. Submit official Kalamazoo Diocese National Student Contest Cover Sheet (one per entry).
For complete contest rules, please visit the website at: www.dioceseofkalamazoo.org/domesticchurch or send e-mail to: Socorro All entries: art, poems, essays, music, songs and videos must be postmarked no later than December 15th, 2014, and sent to:
“The Family Fully Alive” National Student Contest
Secretariat for Parish Life & Lay leadership
Diocese of Kalamazoo
215 N. Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Our Baptismal Call
The public life of Jesus began with His Baptism on the shore of the Jordan River...
It ended
with Jesus commanding the Apostles to
"go and make disciples of all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He had commanded them."
(Matthew 28:19-20)
"go and make disciples of all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He had commanded them."
(Matthew 28:19-20)
When we are baptized...we are claimed for Christ...
What does this mean?
What does this mean?
- it means we are called to reach out and minister to others
- it means we are called to share the Good News
- it means we are called to share the Good News
- it means we are called to be both: servants and leaders
Are we living out our call today?
Thursday, August 14, 2014
What if pain is in the PRESENT moment?
Today, a friend died. This is a cause for much sorrow and pain...
How can I be grateful? How can I survive the agony of grief?
Today, my house was flooded, and we lost many precious little family treasures...
How do we stay calm and serene in spite of the stress of such material loss?
How do we gain the strength and courage to face the 'clean-up' that lies ahead?
Today, my aging body aches all over...
My knees are swollen from arthritis...my head is hurting from sinus congestion...I can hardly get around much anymore...How do I give thanks for the miracle of life? I am breathing...I'm still able to give thanks for all that I feel and experience this day.
As I look out the window, I see sunshine. There is warmth and light in the air...Hope fills my spirit as I breathe in (inhale) the 'good' (the oxygen and the Holy Spirit)...and I remember to breathe out (exhale) the nasty stuff in my lungs (carbon dioxide, anxiety, fear, impatience with self and others...)
Life is worth living to the max! The good, the bad, and the ugly...It all makes us ALIVE...
How can I be grateful? How can I survive the agony of grief?
Today, my house was flooded, and we lost many precious little family treasures...
How do we stay calm and serene in spite of the stress of such material loss?
How do we gain the strength and courage to face the 'clean-up' that lies ahead?
Today, my aging body aches all over...
My knees are swollen from arthritis...my head is hurting from sinus congestion...I can hardly get around much anymore...How do I give thanks for the miracle of life? I am breathing...I'm still able to give thanks for all that I feel and experience this day.
As I look out the window, I see sunshine. There is warmth and light in the air...Hope fills my spirit as I breathe in (inhale) the 'good' (the oxygen and the Holy Spirit)...and I remember to breathe out (exhale) the nasty stuff in my lungs (carbon dioxide, anxiety, fear, impatience with self and others...)
Life is worth living to the max! The good, the bad, and the ugly...It all makes us ALIVE...
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Be present! Ways to be living in the moment...
How can I be really PRESENT to each moment lived?
1- Be grateful. (Is the glass "half empty or half full"?)
2- Be intentional. (say "hello nice day!" to people you meet...and mean it! The good comes right back at ya!) ("Don't worry, be happy" This really works!)
3- Be still (like a child who is looking at life for the first time...)
4- Take your time along the way...Schedules and agenda-keeping can wait! Let an impromptu/unplanned moment linger...When did you notice a beautiful sunset on your way home from work - while you sit in traffic!
5- Breathe it in! The good in each moment slips away when we fail to be truly present. For good or not-so-good...each moment brings an opportunity for a life fully lived! Intensity may vary. The main ingredient to being fully alive: is to be fully present!
What if pain is in the PRESENT moment?
I'll tell you more in my next post!
2- Be intentional. (say "hello nice day!" to people you meet...and mean it! The good comes right back at ya!) ("Don't worry, be happy" This really works!)
3- Be still (like a child who is looking at life for the first time...)
4- Take your time along the way...Schedules and agenda-keeping can wait! Let an impromptu/unplanned moment linger...When did you notice a beautiful sunset on your way home from work - while you sit in traffic!
5- Breathe it in! The good in each moment slips away when we fail to be truly present. For good or not-so-good...each moment brings an opportunity for a life fully lived! Intensity may vary. The main ingredient to being fully alive: is to be fully present!
What if pain is in the PRESENT moment?
I'll tell you more in my next post!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Are you concerned about a family member or friend experiencing abuse?
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are
carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Once you recognize the abuse, know you are not to blame and
you are not alone. No one deserves to be abused.
This is not just the law in America.
This
is the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
800-799-SAFE (7233) - 24 hours, toll free www.ndvh.org
From the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Committee:
When I Call
for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence against Women:
We
acknowledge that violence has many forms, many causes, and many victims—men as
well as women. The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person
in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it
treats the person as an object to be used.
Learn more about how the Church cares
at www.CatholicsForFamilyPeace.org
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